Mitch Young started at Good Life RV in Webster City, Iowa, in 1986. He was 21 years old and looking for part-time work. Fast forward to 2026 and Young is celebrating over four decades with the same dealership.
Young’s father was the parts manager at the time for what was then Webster City RV.
“I needed a job,” Young said. “My dad worked here, and he just kind of got me in the door.”
Young said he never really intended to make a career in the RV industry. He said a mix of helping customers and truly enjoying the people he worked with kept him coming back. In the 40 years he has been servicing RVs and consumers, he said they remain his most rewarding parts of the job.
“[The best part is] helping people, helping my co-workers and customers. I help people out,” Young said. “I enjoy talking to everyone and helping customers out.”
Good Life RV has been in operation for 70 years, starting in the mobile home industry before transitioning to RV sales.
Young said the biggest change over the last four decades has been the evolution of the RV itself.
“When I started, the trailers would come in, and they did not have any options on them,” Young said. “We installed all the awnings, air conditioners and lift jacks. They did not have slide outs. Everything has evolved into…it is pretty much all standard now.”
Young recalls the days when he provided product maintenance rather than replacement.
“When I first started, we had the gas-electric refrigerators. We used to rebuild the cooling units for them,” Young said. “Whereas nowadays you just replace the refrigerator. Everything is just replaced now.”
Young’s wife, Colleen, has worked at the same optometrist office for over 40 years. Longer than his tenure at Good Life, Young said. They have one daughter, Olivia, who is 29. April marks their 34th year of marriage.
As the current shop foreman, Young looked back on his career and said he would do it all again. If he had to do something else, he said he would work outdoors in some capacity.
Young said, “It has been incredibly rewarding and continues to be. Sticking with it, staying in this industry. It is rewarding. You meet a lot of nice people.”
Last week, Good Life RV Administrative Assistant Desma Chambers organized a company-wide surprise celebration for Young.
“Mitch had no clue. We actually pulled it off without him knowing, which was very exciting,” Chambers said. “With Mitch being here for so long, we do not move a trailer on this lot without him knowing what is going on.”
On Friday, Young said he became suspicious when he saw tables being set up and noticed technicians from his service department beginning to wander off and not come back.
“I had to get the guys, the technicians that work in that same building, to the party,” Chambers said. “I told them, ‘Do not leave all at one time, y’all have got to trickle out.’”
When Young went to see where everyone went, the surprise was sprung.
“They got me, I am still in shock about it,” Young said. “I was just very overwhelmed, I almost fainted.”
A few dozen of Young’s colleagues gathered, including current Good Life RV President and co-owner Adam Ruppel, as well as his father and former owner Rod Ruppel.
“Mitch is such a good guy, I am really excited that we got to do it, that we pulled it off,” Chambers said. “He is a really humble guy. He is one of these guys that will go out to the campground on his days off and help somebody.”
Rod Ruppel owned the dealership when Young started in 1986. Rod Ruppel traveled from Florida to join the celebration.
“I had not seen Rod in years,” Young said. “The whole thing was really great.”
During the celebration, the dealership gave Young a one-week, all-expenses-paid Alaskan cruise and honored him with a lifetime achievement award.
Young said he has no plans to retire because he still loves what he does, but he is looking forward to taking that cruise with his wife.
